INCLASS-Government Facts-Somerset Flashcards
What were local councils ordered to provide under the vagrancy Act in 1547?
to provide housing and collections for those who were impotent or old
What year was the Vagrancy Act?
1547
Why did Somerset feel that the Vagrancy Act 1547 had to be enacted to maintain?
to maintain the number of poor people which was steadily increasing
Why was poor people increasing which was reason for the Vagrancy Act 1547?
due to population growth in cities such as London
What did Somerset fear would happen if the number of poor people increased?
disorder and homelessness
What did the Vagrancy Act 1547 primarily declare?
it ordered that any able bodied persons who had ben out of work for 3 days were to be branded with a V and sold into slavery for 2 years
Under the Vagrancy Act 1547 what would happened to the children of parents who did not work for more than 3 days?
they would be taken and made to work as apprentices
What was a positive to the Vagrancy Act 1547?
the conditions were never put into effect
as Somerset’s authority had not been granted by parliament, how did he rule?
by Proclamation
How did Somerset rule by Proclamation after having not been granted authority by Parliament?
as he had control of the Privy Seal and the Dry Stamp which gave royal authentication to his rulings
In less than 3 years, how many proclamations did Somerset make?
70
In how many years did Somerset issue 70 proclamations?
3 years
Who did Somerset use as his government officials?
his own household servants
Who did Somerset bypass during his time as Protectorate?
the Privy Council
Where did the council that Somerset frequently met meet rather than at the royal palaces?
at his house
What was the nickname of Somerset’s household servants whom he relied upon?
the “new council”
What was the activity of Parliament like under Somerset?
there was frequent parliamentary sessions which had been established under the later years of Henry V111
What types of laws were Parliament used to pass under Somerset?
religious laws
What caused Somerset;s heavy military expenditure?
his overriding concern with the Scottish war which begun under Henry V111
How much did the campaigns between 1547-1549 collectively cost?
£580,000
What policy was continued at full speed regardless of its inflationary consequences?
the policy of debasement
By what year was the country bankrupt?
1549
As by 1549 the country went bankrupt, Somerset sold crown lands worth how much?
£800,000
How much did Somerset spend on war by 1549?
£1,356,000
